The consumer is in better shape than he or she was one year ago, says CNBC's Steve Liesman. Discussing how investors should position themselves going into the end of the year, with Quint Tatro, Tatro Capital and CNBC's Rick Santelli.

European shares posted their best weekly gain so far this year after rising for a fifth day on Friday, boosted by strong German data and growing expectations Greece will soon get the next dose of financial help.

In space no one can hear you scream. But they may be able to hear you moan about debt crises and squabble over how to keep your astronautical ambitions from crashing back down to Earth, the Global Post reports.

Enough of the pessimism over the euro zone, says one analyst, who points out that the disaster scenarios anticipated by financial markets for the region have not played out, leaving the euro poised for a strong rally that could take it to $1.50 next year – a 17 percent gain from where it is now.